Another battle of monster proportions - literally! Responses of any kind
will be gratefully accepted.
Jellic�s Hateful Quest
Chapter 24: A Breakup and a Breakdown in Obsidian City
�So,� began Katana as they all watched the Crusher plow through what
little was left of Obsidian City, �How do we beat this thing?�
Jellic shrugged. �It looks tough.�
�No kidding. You can hardly see it through all those beams it�s
shooting.�
�Those beams are Flamethrower, Ice Beam, Water Gun, Thunderbolt, and
Sludge attacks,� explained Kasmira. �With so many elemental attacks,
anything that can fly would have to face one of its weaknesses in order
to get close enough to do any damage.�
�Then why don�t you send in an Electric type?� asked Ashley.
�Electric types aren�t weak to any of those attacks, and Electric
attacks are powerful against Cyborg types.�
�It�s because of the tremors,� replied Kasmira. �It�s creating a
powerful zone of Ground type attacks around itself. No Electric type can
resist that kind of power.�
�That is you! Jellic!� Jellic turned to face the excited shout just
in time to receive a powerful one-armed hug.
�Vesper! I didn�t think I�d ever see you again!�
�I didn�t think I�d see you again, as a human,� returned Vesper.
�What happened?�
�I ran into an old friend,� said Jellic. �This is Katana. Katana,
Vesper Allamantine.�
�You�ve certainly made a lot of lady friends in this world,� said
Katana as she shook Vesper�s good hand. Jellic shrugged.
�I�m a Gym Leader,� explained Vesper. �Or was, before my Gym was
destroyed. Jellic and I worked together on an assignment.� She looked up
at the Crusher. �Looks like we�ll be working together again.�
�Are you sure you�re up to it?� asked Jellic.
�Of course. It only takes one hand to throw a Pokeball.�
�I�d recognize that determination anywhere,� said a voice from
behind them. �Vesper Allamantine, if I�m not mistaken.� Jellic turned
again to see another pair of familiar faces.
�Arthur! Lobia! It�s great to see you again!�
�Likewise, Jellic,� said Arthur, as Lobia threw her arms around
Jellic. �I see you�ve made some new friends since we parted ways.�
�Only one new friend,� replied Jellic. �I�ve known Katana since
childhood. We were engaged to be married at one point.�
�Then the time came to choose our paths in life,� said Katana.
�Jellic couldn�t be a husband and a hero.�
�So he chose to be a hero?� asked Arthur. �Well, it�s a difficult
choice, but we all have to make it. Forgive me for not introducing
myself, my dear Katana. My name is Arthur, and my young friend is
Lobia.�
Katana reeled in shock. �Not THE Arthur? The famous Arthur?�
�The very same,� replied Arthur. �I�ve retired from heroism, of
course; a decision that I�ve often regretted, but the time off has been
good. I feel ready to take on any challenge now. This monstrosity is
just the change of pace I�ve been waiting for.�
�Why did you bring Lobia with you?� asked Jellic.
�There�s no safe place left for her. Every town is under the control
of the Pokemon League now. This city may be being destroyed as we speak,
but it�s the safest place there is.�
�You won�t be in danger from the Pokemon League for long,� said
Kasmira. �We�re losing control now. This Cyborg Pokemon business is
upsetting the balance of power. If we can�t do something about these new
Pokemon, Elvor will have total control!�
�And if we do, you�ll have control,� said Jellic. �I don�t know
which is worse.�
�None of that matters now!� shouted Ashley. �If we don�t stop
Crusher, it will hurt more innocent people! Can�t you all just forget
about politics and think about saving lives?�
�But what can we do?� asked Arthur. �I�ve thought of every option,
and there�s just no way to get any Pokemon close enough to do any
damage.�
�I know a way!� shouted Lobia suddenly. �Underground!�
�You don�t mean Diglett, do you?� asked Ashley.
�Sure! Diglett won�t want to fight, but it can dig a tunnel for
other Pokemon to crawl through.�
�As long as they�re not weak to the tremors, it might work,� said
Vesper. �But as soon as they come to the surface, they�ll be within
range of the elemental attacks as well as some devastating physical
attacks. I�ve studied Cyborg types quite a bit while you were gone. They
seem to do a lot of damage to Psychic type and Electric type Pokemon,
and not much to Ground types.�
�They�re also immune to Psychic and Poison type attacks,� added
Kasmira, �and Normal and Fighting type attacks don�t do much damage.�
�So what does that leave?� asked Jellic.
�Nothing,� said Arthur. �Any type that has an Elemental weakness of
any kind will find it almost impossible to get within attacking range of
that Cyborg.�
�What about a Normal type?� asked Ashley. �They aren�t weak to any
of its attacks, and some Normal types can learn elemental attacks that
would work well against Crusher.�
�But elemental attacks are weaker when used by a Pokemon of a
different type,� Kasmira pointed out. �And every attack that fails to
defeat Crusher just makes it more powerful.�
�That�s right!� said Ashley. �When a Cyborg Pokemon gets weak, it
gets confused!�
�So if we heal it...� continued Jellic.
�... it will stop destroying the city!� finished Ashley.
�We can send Diglett underground with some healing items to restore
Crusher�s energy until it calms down,� said Jellic.
�I don�t think it can use items,� said Lobia sadly.
�No problem!� said Vesper. �We rescued quite a few Chanseys from the
Pokemon Center. They can use their Softboiled technique to restore
Crusher�s power. Plus, Chanseys tend to be pretty resilient. They should
be able to survive the Crusher�s assault for long enough to get the job
done.�
�All right!� said Jellic. �Lobia, get Diglett to start digging!
Vesper, get those Chanseys ready to go! The rest of us will get in there
and distract Crusher to give the Chanseys time to get into position.�
�Distract it? How?� asked Ashley. � Don�t tell me we�re going to
attack it!�
�That�s my Jellic,� said Katana. �Always ready to rush in headfirst
and plan later.�
�Give me some credit,� said Jellic. �I�ve planned ahead this time.�
�Really? What�s the plan?�
�Elvor said he could beat the Crusher, right?� asked Jellic. �Well,
what does he have that he thinks we don�t have?�
�Secret Machine techniques?� Ashley guessed.
�Exactly,� said Jellic. �You never know. We might actually be able
to make it faint on our own. And if not, we�ve got the Chanseys to fall
back on.�
�You just changed the plan, didn�t you?� asked Vesper.
�I thought you�d worked with Jellic,� said Katana. �You should be
used to that by now.�
�And how would you know?� asked Ashley. �I thought the two of you
separated when you became heroes.�
�We did,� replied Katana, �but I knew him rather intimately before
then. Becoming a hero doesn�t change a person; it only changes that
person�s occupation.�
�I should remember that one,� said Arthur.
�Well, unless there are no more last minute changes to the plan, we�
d better get started,� said Vesper.
Jellic shook his head. �It�s all yours. Take care of Lobia. And if
the Crusher comes this way, get out of here. Don�t try to be a hero.�
�There are only two kinds of heroes,� said Arthur. �Dead ones, and
lucky ones; and luck is fleeting.� He smiled at Katana.
�I�ll keep that in mind,� said Vesper. �But it�s starting to come
this way already. I guess so many people in one place is too tempting a
target to pass up.�
�Right,� said Jellic. �Arthur, you and Ashley go left. The rest of
us will take the right.�
�Be careful, Jellic,� said Ashley, kissing Jellic lightly on the
cheek.
�You be careful too.� Ashley and Arthur advanced into the city,
leaving Jellic alone with Kasmira and Katana.
�Why are you keeping HER here?� grumbled Katana.
�Because I don�t trust her enough to take my eyes off of her,� said
Jellic, �and if she tries anything, it�ll take two heroes to stop her.�
�So it�s business, is it?� asked Katana. �I thought you sent Ashley
off with Arthur and stayed with me because you wanted to talk.�
�We have nothing to talk about,� said Jellic. �Whatever you may
think of our relationship... it�s over. It was over when we became
heroes. I didn�t want to lose you... but I had to move on with my life.
I had to forget about you. And over the years, I even managed to
convince myself that I didn�t want you any more.�
�What are you saying, Jellic?� asked Katana, as Kasmira readied a
Pokeball and edged her way toward the city to distance herself from the
conversation.
�I�m saying that I don�t feel that way about you any more, Katana.�
Jellic set off on Kasmira�s trail, but Katana grabbed his shoulder and
held him back. Jellic turned to see an expression of utter shock on her
face, dressed with tears.
�How could you?� she sobbed. �How could you forget the feelings we
shared?�
�We all make choices, Katana. There are no good choices or bad
choices. Just choices. True, we would have said our wedding vows if we
hadn�t taken our vows of service. But that�s not the way our lives
happened. We have to learn to live with the results of those choices.�
�I�m sorry. I know we have bigger problems right now than my
feelings, but I wasn�t expecting...�
�Heroes!� shouted Kasmira. �The sky is aflame!�
Jellic stared up at the pillar of flame that marked the spot where
the Crusher stood. �That�s Vulpix�s Balefire! They�ve started the
attack!�
�Balefire?� asked Kasmira. �I�ve never heard of such an attack!�
�It�s one of Elvor�s inventions,� said Jellic.
�Whatever it is, it�s not very effective,� said Kasmira. �Those
flames aren�t touching Crusher.�
�That�s impossible!�
�Nonetheless, it�s true. All of its water jets are turned against
the flames, and they�re powerful enough to hold off the attack. The
column of flames that you see is but a shell.�
�What makes you so sure?� asked Jellic.
�I do have a rather keen connection with the element of fire,�
replied Kasmira.
Jellic paused. �That makes sense.� He shook his head and grabbed a
Pokeball. �Now�s our chance to attack it! Machop, go!�
�Fighting moves are useless!� argued Kasmira. �Besides that, the
Cyborg is spewing poison!�
�This is a special Machop,� said Jellic. �Bitter End!�
�Machop!� Machop grew larger than Jellic had ever seen it grow,
until it was nearly as large as the Crusher. The Crusher turned its
poison sprayer on the huge Fighting type, but Machop had plenty of time
to deliver a powerful punch to the Crusher�s body. As Machop shrank to
its original size and fainted, the Crusher lurched backwards with a huge
dent in its chest.
�Good work, Machop!� cheered Jellic, even though the unconscious
Pokemon couldn�t hear him.
�Not good enough,� said Kasmira, pointing up at the Crusher. No
sooner had it regained its balance than the dented chestplate sprang
back to its original shape, like Tupperware. �I told you, Fighting moves
are useless.�
�I see what you mean,� said Jellic. �But those were Secret Machine
techniques, and they were the only two we had. Elvor has the Pokemon
that know the rest of the techniques.�
�Perhaps we were too hasty in rejecting his aid,� said Kasmira.
�No. We can�t let him win this battle. But if even Secret Machine
techniques can�t hit it, there�s nothing we can do!�
�Well, there is the backup plan, right?� asked Katana. As if it had
heard her, the Crusher turned its water cannons on the ground, washing
out the ground and flooding the tunnel. �Oops. I jinxed it!�
�Perhaps all is not lost,� said Kasmira. �Vesper Allamantine never
leaves a job half-finished.� She smiled. �She�d make an excellent hero,
I think.�
�I hope so,� said Katana.
�Well, she�ll never be able to hold this plan together unless we do
our part,� Jellic reminded them. �Gyarados, go!� The Water dragon took
to the air as soon as it was free of its Pokeball. �Gyarados, don�t try
to attack this opponent. Just fly around it and keep moving so it can�t
hit you.�
�I see,� said Kasmira. �If you don�t attack, you can concentrate on
defense.�
�I get it!� said Katana. �Moltres, go!�
�Are you sure you can handle a Moltres?� asked Kasmira. �They�re
quite wild. Even experienced trainers have trouble with them.�
�What kind of trouble?� asked Katana, as the Moltres streaked into
the sky. It raised its wings, flashing its awesome beauty for a split
second before folding its wings against its body and diving � straight
at Jellic�s Gyarados. Gyarados, already hard pressed to avoid the
Crusher�s electric beams, barely raised its serpentine body above the
Moltres� charge, leaving the firebird to bounce harmlessly off of the
Crusher�s metal body. �Oh my god! Why is it attacking your dragon?�
�You can�t control it!� shouted Jellic. �Call it back!�
�That�s no good!� said Kasmira. �Once you lose control, you�ll have
to fight it back!�
�We can�t afford to fight it now!� replied Jellic.
�The others don�t seem to agree,� noted Kasmira, as Ashley�s Pidgeot
and Arthur�s Charizard swooped into the fray and dove at the Moltres,
trying to clip its wings. Moltres fought back with Fire Spin, burning
Pidgeot badly but not dealing Charizard much damage. Gyarados circled
around the Cyborg and charged at the Moltres. As the Moltres turned to
face Gyarados, a Thunderbolt from the Crusher struck the dragon�s tail.
Gyarados lunged at the Crusher. �No!� shouted Jellic. �Don�t attack
Crusher!� Gyarados quickly dodged another Thunderbolt and moved to
attack the Moltres, but the bird was already preoccupied dodging claws
with Charizard. Gyarados turned around, hoping to draw Crusher�s attacks
away from the battling duo.
�At least it�s distracted,� said Kasmira. �I think Diglett has
finished digging the detour for the Chanseys.�
�We just have to buy them a little more time,� said Katana.
�Psyduck, try using Disable on Moltres, like you did before!� Psyduck
squinted at the battling Fire types, and Moltres paused as the attack
hit it. Charizard paused as well, thrown off guard by its opponent�s
sudden stop. Before either one could regain its equilibrium, another
Water Gun struck them both. The Crusher sent a Thunderbolt coursing
through the stream of water, electrocuting both of the Pokemon.
�Gyarados, watch out!� shouted Jellic, but it was too late. The
electrocuting beam struck Gyarados next, knocking it out of the sky.
�We have to protect the tunnel!� shouted Kasmira. �Staryu, Harden
and block the water!� Staryu emerged from its Pokeball and floated above
the tunnel, using its body to deflect the Water Gun attack aimed at the
tunnel. Crusher fired a Laser Beam at Staryu, piercing its hard shell
and frying it. The Water Gun continued uninhibited to the ground, where
Ashley�s Blastoise and Arthur�s Grass types had formed a last line of
defense. As Venusaur�s leaves began to soak up the water, a round object
poked up in front of it.
�Chansey!� said the Chansey, as it climbed out of the hole and
turned back to help the rest of them out. Crusher�s Flamethrower rained
down from above, badly burning the Grass types until they could no
longer block the water. Blastoise dug its feet into the ground and
fought to hold back the increasingly intense stream all by itself.
�It�s almost finished,� said Jellic. �Butterfree, it�s your turn!
Distract Crusher!� Butterfree floated up in front of the Crusher�s face.
Crusher made a grab for Butterfree, but Butterfree flew backwards and
launched a String Shot, securing Crusher�s arms to its sides.
�Chansey!� The last Chansey finally cleared the tunnel, and the
group formed a ring around the Crusher. A soft glow surrounded the
Cyborg, and as it snapped the string and blasted Butterfree with a
Thunderbolt, its movements began to slow. The various weapons all over
its body vanished into their panels, and it finally stood stock still in
the middle of the ring of Chanseys.
�We did it!� shouted Katana gleefully. �We healed Crusher!�
�Well, we stopped it from destroying the city,� said Jellic. �Now
what?�
Vesper ran up to the trio from the direction of the Crusher. �Arthur
says to recall all of your Pokemon. He wants to try something.�
�What about Psyduck?� asked Katana. �It doesn�t have a Pokeball.�
�Psyduck will be fine,� Vesper assured her. �He means the fainted
Pokemon that might get in the way.� The trainers recalled their Pokemon,
as the Chanseys hurriedly waddled away.
�Okay, we�ve done that,� said Jellic. �What�s the plan?�
�Take a look,� said Vesper, pointing to the Crusher.
Katana�s keen eye spotted it first. �It�s sinking!�
Jellic grew pale. �Mire! What�s it doing here?�
Vesper shrugged. �It�s some new Pokemon Arthur caught in the Swamp
of Sickness while he was out that direction. It�s like living quicksand.
I�ve never seen one before now. It�s kind of creepy, huh?�
�Why would he do something like that?� asked Jellic.
�It�s an instant knockout attack,� said Kasmira. �It will make
Crusher faint without hurting it.�
�I get it!� said Katana. �That way, we beat it without it going on
another rampage!�
�Very clever,� admitted Kasmira. �Of course, I suppose this brings
our truce to a close.�
�I�m not looking forward to it any more than you are,� said Jellic.
�Once I finish my business here, I�ll have to move on and leave Ashley
behind. I don�t know how she�ll handle it, but I doubt I�ll be able to
find the motivation to keep being a hero.�
�You found motivation when you left Katana behind,� said Vesper.
�You�re strong. You�ll get over it eventually.�
�Actually, there is a way you can stay,� said Kasmira. �All you need
is a spell more powerful than the Destiny spell that binds you as a
hero.�
�How do you know about that spell?� asked Katana.
�I am finely attuned to magic, and there is precious little of that
in this dimension. Your spell stands out so clearly that I can read the
words of the bond in the weaving. �I pledge to save those who need my
help, to fight evil wherever it may thrive, to protect those weaker than
myself, --��
�We know the oath,� interrupted Jellic. �But where in this dimension
could we find a spell more powerful than the Destiny spell?�
�Why, you�ve had it with you all along!� said Kasmira.
�If it�s �there�s no place like home,� I�m going to scream,� said
Jellic.
�What are you talking about?� asked Kasmira.
�Never mind. What�s the spell I�ve had with me all along?�
�I�m surprised you hadn�t figured it out yourself!� She pointed to
one of the Pokeballs at Jellic�s waist. �The spell that binds this
Pokemon to you is quite powerful.�
�Mewthree? I knew about the spell, but I didn�t think it was that
powerful!�
�Its power is not incredible, to be sure. However, it is just
powerful enough to shadow the Destiny spell. When the Destiny spell
tries to remove you from this dimension, that bond will hold you here.�
�Really?� Jellic forced himself to hide his excitement. �But why
would you be helping me? You said it yourself. The truce is over. We
should be trying to kill each other right now.�
Kasmira shrugged. �I�m merely stating the facts. It�s not my fault
that it�s good news for you.�
Jellic could contain his joy no longer. He grabbed Katana and spun
her around in the air. �Wait until Ashley hears about this! She�ll be
thrilled!�
�I�m... I�m...� Katana gasped for air. Jellic quickly set her on the
ground. When he tried to look into her eyes, he could barely see them
behind the curtain of tears.
�What�s wrong, Katana? This isn�t about us separating again, is it?�
�No,� sobbed Katana. �It�s my fault. I�ve done something...
horrible.�
�What could it possibly be?� asked Jellic. Katana moved her mouth,
but no words came out. She strained for breath, but the tears caught in
her throat and choked her. Jellic patted her on the back. �Katana? What
is it?�
Katana finally caught her breath just long enough to whisper a few
words. Jellic couldn�t quite hear them, but they sounded like, �I�m
sorry.� She pushed Jellic away and ran through the empty streets,
leaving behind only a dying echo.
�Please forgive me. I didn�t know...�
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Welcome to "Whose Line is it Anyway?" where we make things up as we go
along, whether they make sense or badger.
JOHNNY BRAVO: *sigh* The only woman I ever really loved... and she's
gone. I wonder if I'll ever get over - Hey! Nuggets!
JACKIE CHAN: Oh, sorry. I broke your spy camera! (pause) SPY CAMERA?!
My webpage: http://www.rose-hulman.edu/~katinamp